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The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network, the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, and the Save Your Skin Foundation are hosting a summit: “Drug Pricing in Canada: Mobilizing Patients to Action” in Toronto this November 15-16.

There are at least 10 million individuals across the world who have familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). It is estimated that 650,000 live with FH in the US and Canada and around a million in the EU. Ward Health, Patients and Research and FH Canada Patient Network, are pleased to host an hour-long conversation on familial hyperchlesterolaemia (FH).

There are 12-14 million individuals across the world living with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Today there are more opportunities than ever before for identifying and providing tailored treatments for FH and its consequences. With the growing prospect of treatments that address fundamental disease mechanisms there is now every reason to fight to increase rates of diagnosis.

Yesterday, global leaders, policy makers, industry professionals and academics called on countries around the world to do more to help the 350 million people suffering from depression. In particular they stressed the need for collaboration, urging healthcare systems, businesses and the general public to work together to fight depression. The Global Crisis of Depression forum - organized by The Economist Events and sponsored by H. Lundbeck A/S - highlighted the global burden of depression, which is now the leading cause of disability worldwide.

On November 25, policymakers, healthcare providers, researchers, employers and patient groups will gather in London to consider national strategies to tackle what has become a leading cause of illness globally. Depression is a brain disease that severely impacts patients’ lives. Roughly half of patients fail to respond to initial anti-depressant therapy for reasons that include lack of efficacy, poor tolerability or residual symptoms such as cognitive dysfunction. No one understands this better than Lundbeck, the leading research-based pharmaceutical company dedicated to diseases of the brain, which is why CEO Ulf Wiinberg will join the panel discussion about treatment options in the 21st Century that day in London. Also sharing their views will be health ministers from the UK and Denmark, and experts from Sweden, Canada, Germany, the UK and the European Brain Council.

Globally, there are currently a little over 40 million people living with dementia. This total could increase to some140 million by 2050 without better prevention and more effective treatments. It is this reality which led the G8 to make its recent pledge to foster the development of effective new therapies by 2025.

Given the inherent riskiness of medicines development, it is uncertain that this challenging political timetable will be met. Any investment area characterised by a need for sustained long term research and uncertain returns is in truth unlikely to be judged attractive by either public or private institutional decision makers with serious money to spend. However, this is no reason to lose faith that the challenge of reducing the burdens imposed by dementia and allied disorders can and will ultimately be met.

David Taylor, Emeritus Professor of Pharmaceutical and Public Health Policy, UCL